The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-06-18

across the prairie, to him she was still
standing on the quay waving the yellow
handkerchief and the bright waters
sparlzled between them, and Mary and home
were being left behind; but Mary would
soon come and they would make new home
in new land.
Peter finally reached the settlement and
was warmly welcomed by his countrymen,
one or two of whom he had been slightly
acquainted with in the old country, and
whose letters had led him to go where they
were, rather than elsewhere He staid
with one family that night and sat up very
late telling them and the neighbors who
had flocked in how matters had gone in
their native land since they had left it.
Peter had trouble in finding work which
would keep him employed all the time
The country was so new that each farmer
seemed able to do every thing necessary
himself, so he soon saw that he could not
hope to bring Mary over before another
season and sorrowfully wrote her the fact
1t seemed long time to wait-a whole
year, perhaps longer-but he kept up his
courage, for he knew she would come some
time Her letters, which came at irregular
intervals, being frequently delayed for a
long time, brought him new hope each
time and one was almost worn out by con-
slant reading and carrying about with him
before another came. And sometimes she
inclosed a little mountain flower or pressed
moss from the old home and he showed il
| proudly to his friends, and they looked at il
almost reverently and agreed that although
America was great place, nothing grew
in it quite so lovely as the flowers and
MOSES from their old fatherland.
50 the season Wore along without mich
change till winter. Peter could hope for
still less work during that season. But
when spring came the prospect Frightened.
Work was more plentiful than durng the
summer before. 1t would be but 5 short
time and he could send for Mar. How
easy it was to work when he thclght of
that!
He had taken a claim, and bfore she
came he would have a house 1uilt on it
which for elegance would rival any
thing in the whole settlemnt-and it
would all be built of sod, too For sod
house, Peter reasoned, was palace if
you moved into it in the right spirit, So
there was no doubt that it wclld be a palace
to them.
On the anniversary Of the day that Peter
arrived at Prairie City he appeared early in
the morning at one of the local steamship
ticket agencies found wherever there is
even small per cent o. foreign popula-
ton. He made his wants known in broken,
but fairly good English, and soon had a
ticket-a ticket which he would send to Mary
and it would bring her away from the little
village in the old world to a little village in
the new where he would meet her. But it
would be long time ye5 before she would
reach there, for it was a long way-it was
about as near to go around the world
one way as the other, Peter estimated,
and he had travelled it and ought to
know-so she would not arrive till
some time in the fall. Peter went back
to work and built the house and earned a
surprising amount of money by working
for the neighbors, and had the very best of
good luck in every way. The house was
even more sumptuous and really more ele-
giant in it's appointments than he had dared
to hope. He invited the neighborS to eX-
anime tit was one of those residences
that would bear inspection. All! if his
father and his mother could see what a
house he had built! And his brothers and
sisters and his grandfather Hendrick An
tijuntti Peterson, who lived up on the
mountain, if he could see it and tell if on
his famous visit years ago to st. Peters
burg he saw any houses which for real
comfort and usefulness surpassed his
grandson7SI
So everything prospered with Peter, and
at last letter came saying that the ticket
had reached the little village and had been
duly inspected by every one living in it and
the little valley as well, including the au-
thorities and public officers, and even his
grandfather, who lived up on the mountain,
and that they had all pronounced it correct
so far as they knew, though his grandfather
thought it was perhaps just tritie small
for the very great distance; and that Mary
would start in about a week and would sail
away from the same little Quay-sail away
to meet her Peter in America, as
she expressed it, and then she signed
her name down in the corner and
put in little pale blue flower which she
had plucked as she came down from the
mountain after showing the ticket to his
grandfather.
So Mary was coming to Prairie City so
soon! Yes, in week, perhaps sooner,
perhaps a little longer, and she would come
to Prairie City Peter could scarcely real
ize it, He was so very happy and he was
soon to be so much happier He had been
to see the minister, Rev. Hans Mustola
Mykkala, who lived over in another settle
ment, and he was to come to the house of
Peters friend and there was to be grand
wedding the next day after she came and
then they would go to live in that palace.
Aht how surprised Mary would be to see so
fine residence built, all for her and her
Peter
He must visit every train now, so that he
would be sure to meet her. A passenger
train now ran on that road, which reached
Prairie City in the evening and that was
the one she would come on. This train was
almost as reluctant as the "mixed" which
formerly ran, and it was seldom on time,
but Peter always waited till it came, and
drove back with his OK team. Over week
had passed and still she had not come.
One evening there was light rain and
it was announced that the train would not
arrive till after midnight. At this the
loungers who had strolled over to witness
the exciting event Of the arrival of train
went back and left Peter and the station
agent alone.
After an hour the rain ceased This was
not followed by clear sky, but by prepa-
rations for the real storm of the night. 1t
grew very still, and as Peter paced the plat
form he could part Of the time hear it roar
ing overhead, but not a breath could be felt.
1t was hot and sultry. Flash after flash of
that vivid lightning seen only on the great,
open prairie followed in rapid succession.
1t was binding in its brilliancy and ranged
from blood-red to white. Much of it was so
far away that the thunder could not be